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By The Canadian Press

Alberta on-farm slaughter numbers lifted

Alberta pauses new on-farm slaughter sale limits

Jul 15, 2025 | 10:19 AM

Alberta’s government has temporarily lifted new limits on how many animals’ farmers can slaughter and sell directly to consumers.

That decision makes farmers happy, but anxious about what the government might do next.

Alberta’s on-farm slaughter program lets producers sell cows, pigs, chickens and other animals to consumers and avoid going through commercial meat inspections.

The program gives farms access to new markets and gives consumers a way to support local producers.

Last week, Alberta introduced new rules that limit annual sales per farm to 2,250 kilograms or 5,000 thousand pounds of live animals.

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Some producers say that limit will devastate the profitability of their operations, and Agriculture Minister R-J Sigurdson says they’re reviewing the rules considering those concerns.

Sigurdson says the original goal was to restrict the possible transmission of foodborne illnesses.

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The Canadian Press